| Hans Kung, The Beginning of All Things: Science and | | | | to use practical reason in making that determination. |
| Religion. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, | | | | "So answers are to be found not by the theoretical |
| 2007. | | | | operations of pure reason, and not by irrational |
| The very first chapter makes it clear that Hans Kung | | | | feelings and mere moods, but rather on the basis of |
| admires science, but questions the positivism and | | | | a trusting, rationally responsible fundamental decision |
| reductionism of some scientists that would make | | | | and fundamental attitude." (p. 81) |
| religion and metaphysics seem unnecessary. He | | | | Kung acknowledged the scientific predictions of how |
| presents a friendly confrontation between religion and | | | | our solar system will end in conflagration. He maintains |
| science in a very comprehensive though short book | | | | his position of reasonable religion without appealing to |
| that is indispensable reading for anyone interested in | | | | an afterlife. His personal statement is one I find to be |
| the subject of science and religion. | | | | very moving. "I personally have accepted Blaise |
| One of the strengths of the book is the way in | | | | Pascal's 'wager' and have put my stake on God and |
| which Kung presents the reasonableness of belief in | | | | the infinite against the void and nothingness - not on |
| God while not detracting from the value of scientific | | | | the basis of calculation of probability or mathematical |
| knowledge. Like many others before him, he | | | | logic but on the basis of a rational trust.... Of course, I |
| concludes that there are no proofs for or against | | | | am aware of the abiding risk of this wager in |
| God. He turns rather to Pascal's wager, which is a | | | | unconditional trust, but I am convinced that even if I |
| challenge, he says, "to make it clear that in the | | | | lose this wager in death, I will have lost nothing for |
| question of the existence or nonexistence of God, | | | | my life; at all events, I will have lived a better, |
| what is asked for is not a judgment of pure reason | | | | happier, more meaningful life than if I had not had |
| but a decision of the whole person, which cannot be | | | | hope." (pp. 205-206) |
| proved by reason but can be made rationally | | | | For a review of key scientific ideas with a positive |
| responsible." (p. 58) Science does not make decisions | | | | and hopeful critique from a believer, one can find no |
| on the reality of God but human beings are called on | | | | better choice than this book. |